The concept of everyday beauty significantly influenced the Nordic modernist movement in the mid-20th century and served as a cornerstone for the development of the ARKET brand. Coined in 1919 by Swedish art historian Gregor Paulsson, the slogan "More beautiful everyday goods" captured a new, democratic approach aimed at bridging the fields of art, handicrafts, and utilitarian design to create affordable, accessible items for daily life. In the Nordic region, this aspiration embraced a new aesthetic characterised by clean lines, a neutral colour palette, and solid materials drawn from nature and the northern climate. Above all, it prioritised functionality and longevity as the basis of good design.
We believe that the foundation of sustainability in the retail world should be a focus on longevity and purposeful design. Our aim is to provide a curated selection of garments and goods that are not only beautifully designed and visually inspiring but also have a clear function and meaning in our everyday lives. Our products are carefully crafted to outlast short-lived trends, to be used and cherished for many years, and eventually handed down to someone else.
A modern-day market is how we envision the brand: an inspiring design and lifestyle destination with a broad, edited assortment for the entire family, along with a seasonal Nordic café under one roof, representing a slower-paced retail experience with room to breathe. Each of our stores is unique and designed in dialogue with the local architecture, but some of our signature interior features include archive shelving systems in a monochrome palette of soft greys, combined with a variety of natural materials such as solid oak interiors and custom-made terrazzo flooring.
Dedicated to elevating the concept of everyday food, our vegetarian cafés are local hideaways, located inside most ARKET stores. Emphasising seasonality, creativity, and natural ingredients, the menus offer a carefully composed selection of seasonal dishes, sweet treats, limited edition pastries, and speciality coffee. The menus are created by head chef Martin Berg, an early advocate of the New Nordic food movement. With a fine dining background and prior experience as executive chef at several Michelin-starred restaurants, he wants to bring food creativity, quality, and exceptional taste to a wider audience.
Our design studio and head office are located on Södermalm in Stockholm, Sweden. As a brand and employer, we want to reflect and celebrate the diversity of the world we operate in. Our global outreach is a great responsibility that motivates us to constantly challenge ourselves, stay curious, and grow. Diversity and inclusion are not siloed focus areas but a lens through which we examine our daily work. We value the importance of inviting unique perspectives to the table and tapping into our collective knowledge and experiences. It helps us stay creative and resilient and, most importantly, nurtures an atmosphere where everyone feels welcome, respected, empowered, and heard.
Josephine Philips on resisting throwaway culture with purpose
Interviews|March 2025
In an age of fleeting trends and social media distractions, Josephine Philips is forging a different path. A second-hand devotee at university, she recognised the lack of accessible repairs and founded SOJO to revolutionise clothing repairs and alterations. From her grandmother’s timeless wardrobe to her social media hiatus, Josephine’s story is one of long-term vision and bold defiance of throwaway culture.
On scents and the mapping of beauty
Notes|March 2025
Scent is memory, place, and time – an invisible thread that links the material character of nature with the subjective realm of dreams, evoking emotions and connecting the past with the present.
Jersey
Care guides|March 2025
Jersey is a knitted fabric commonly used to make T-shirts, loungewear, and more. Properly caring for your jersey garments will help maintain their softness and stretch.
Olivia Lonsdale on the joys of going smaller
Interviews|March 2025
At first glance, the works of filmmaker Olivia Lonsdale seem hard to place in time. It might be because of the timeless beauty of every frame, the recognisable emotions she points to, or the grainy texture of her visual language, reminiscent of the past and mirroring the present. It’s deliberate: in her work, and in her life, the filmmaker and actor finds pleasure in the art of limits, favouring reflection and pause before finding the shot.